D-backs take home more defensive awards

By Arizona Sports | November 8, 2013 at 12:53 amUPDATED: November 8, 2013 at 12:53 am

Though the Arizona Diamondbacks’ “grit” mantra didn’t lead them to the playoffs, the attitude did help them become one of the best defensive teams in baseball.

The Diamondbacks announced Thursday that Gerardo Parra has been named the National League Wilson Defensive Player of the Year while the team was named Wilson’s NL Defensive Team of the Year.

Parra led all Major League outfielders with 17 assists while the Diamondbacks made a National League-low 75 errors and had a league-best .988 fielding percentage. Parra and Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

The award, which was created in 2012, combines scouting information, sabermetric analysis and basic fielding statistics, according to a press release. Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia won the AL Defensive Player of the Year while the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles tied for the team award.

The 2012 individual winners were Michael Bourn and Mike Trout and the Atlanta Braves were the Defensive Team of the Year.